Canada Family sponsorship Intercountry adoption

All intercountry adoptions must be legal in both the child’s home country and the province or territory where you reside for immigration purposes in Canada.

• terminate your adopted child’s legal relationship with his or her biological parents;
• follow your province’s or territory’s criteria, which may include a home study;
• establish a genuine parent–child relationship with the child;
• be in the child’s best interests;
• not be solely for the purpose of obtaining permanent resident status for the child in Canada.

When you adopt a child from another country, you must go through two procedures: the adoption process and the immigration process.

The immigration process is divided into two parts:

1. The sponsorship application and
2. The child’s application for permanent residency.

You may apply for citizenship on your child’s behalf after he or she becomes a permanent resident in Canada. However, before the child can be given citizenship, the adoption must be finalized.

Learn more about applying for a grant of citizenship for your child.

Download and print the application package. It includes the application guide and all the forms you need to fill out.

Read the guide carefully before you complete the application forms. You may be able to sponsor a child as soon as you decide to adopt, if you know the country from which you plan to adopt. Please consult your provincial or territorial adoption authority before applying to Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Sponsor an adopted child: $150

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